Elevation-adjusting means for chain grates.



H. A. POPPENHUSEN. ELEVATION ADIUSTING MEANS FOR CHAIN GRATES.

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H. A. POPPENHUSEN. ELEVATION ADJUSTING MEANS FOR CHAIN GRATES.

Patented June 29, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22. I915.

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H. A. POPPENHUSEN. ELEVATION ADJUSTING MEANS FOR CHAIN GRATES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-22,1915.

Patented June 29, 1915.

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HERMAN A. POPPENHUSEN, 0F HAMMOND, INDIANA.

ELEVATION-ADJUSTING MEANS FOR CHAIN GRATES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN A. PoPPEN- HUsnN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevation- Adjusting Means for Chain Grates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanical stokers of the chain grate type for furnaces and more particularly to means for raising and lowering the rear portion or end of the grate.

In furnaces equipped with the chain grate type of stoker, the fuel is fed upon the upper surface of the grate at the forwardend of the furnace, and is carried rearwardly upon the moving grate, the process of combustion being carried on during the advance of the fuel from the front to rear of the combustion chamber, the fuel being thereby gradually reduced to ashes. Upon reaching the rear end of the grate, the ashes are dis charged into a pitlocated below the said rear end of the grate. As 'well known, to

.those skilled in the art, the ashes form a layer upon the'grate extending over the surface thereof, and above which is the layer of fuel or unburned combustible material. The relative thickness of the ash and fuel layers vary from the front to the rear of the grate by reason of the continuous combustion or burning of the fuel as it is carried rearwardly, and the consequent reduction of the same to ash. To operate the grate under conditions of maximum economy and efficiency, the fuel layer should be entirely reduced to ash upon reaching the rear of the grate in order that the entire heating value of the fuel may be utilized and no part of the unburned fuel discharged into the ash pit. Certain working conditions or elements in connection with the operation of the furnace however, operate to make impractical, the total reduction of the fuel to ash before reaching the rear of the grate, the principal condition being that of draft in the nature of a currentof air, which is introduced below the gr'ate'and passes upwardly through the fuel layer, thereby providing the necessary supply'of oxygen to Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 22, 1915. Serial No. 3,695.

complete the combustion of the fuel. It is apparent, that in the instance that a furnace was so operated that the rear portion of the grate was covered with the layer of ashes or a comparatively thin layer of fuel, th1s portion of the grate would aiford but little resistance to the passage of air therethrough. As a practical result, therefore, the current of air constituting the draft would necessarily seek the rear portion of the grate as the easiest means of passing through the grate, and the fuel layer in the forward portion of the grate would be deprived of the necessary supply of air to carry on combustion in the proper manner.

The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the fuel layer may be extended the full length of the grate and the fuel at the rear portion thereof, compressed or retained until entirely consumed before being discharged into the ash pit, and in this manner, to increase the thickness of the fuel layer at the rear of the furnace and thereby avoid the leakage of air therethrough.

A further object of the invention is to accomplish the result in a manner to provide for variations in operating conditions, that is, to provide an adjustable means whereby the desired results may be accomplished under conditions of varying relative thicknesses of fuel and ash layers upon the grate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction for the grate embodying a device for elevating the rear portion thereof, which will be mounted entirely upon the grate and be a part thereof, thus making the grate and elevating device entirely self-contained and thereby enabling the grate to be withdrawn from the furnace and otherwise manipulated with the greatest degree of ease and convenience.

The novel features of construction and advantages derived by the application of the invention will be understood from the description of the device embodying the features thereof, and from the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section taken through a furnace and chain grate equipped with the elevating device embodied in the invention, and showing the grate in lowered position; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing grate in elevated position; Fig. 3 is a View in vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the grate in section and parts of the elevating mechanism; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 4 lof Fig. land showing the construction employed supporting the grate upon the rear truck. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view in section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. l; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1, showing the method of mounting the rear end of the-elevating beam upon the grate.

Referring to features of construction of a furnace to which my invention is applicable, the same comprises in general, the side walls 1010, a front wall 11, a coking breast 12 extending rearwardly from the front wall and above the grate, a bridge wall 13 forming the rear wall of the combustion chamber and a series of water tubes 14,.mounted within the furnace in the usual manner. In the lower portion of the combustion chamber is the traveling chain grate of the usual type and constructed as fol- 1 lows-t Two side frame members 16, 16, Figs.

1 and 2, spaced apart, support between them aplurality of rollers 17, which carry or support the endless grate 18 of the usual construction.

At either end of the frame members are mounted shafts 19, 19 carrying a plurality of sprocket wheels 20, engaging the chain grate, one of said shafts being adapted to be rotated by. the provision of suitable driving mechanism having driving connection.

therewith and by means of which a continu-. ous movement is lmparted to the chain grate to advance the fuel upon the upper surface thereof, from the front to the rear of the combustion chamber.

The grate is mounted upon trucks consisting of wheels 21 and journals 22, the ends thereof being mounted in suitable bearings provided upon the side frame member-sf The rear truck and bearings will be hereinafter more fully described in connection with the elevating mechanism. The wheels engage rails 23 extending outwardly from the furnace, thereby permitting the grate to be moved bodily from the furnace for the purpose of cleaning or making repairs on said grate.

At the forward end of the furnace, and exterior to the front wall 11 thereof, is a feed hopper 24 mounted upon the side frame members 16, 16 at the forward end of the grate, said hopper being adapted to receive the fuel previous to its introduction into structed' ofbrick work or tile, said nose'exof pipes 28 preferably in the form of acoil extending transversely of the furnace, one of said pipes-being-located at the forward margin of the nose, and the other located rearwardly thereof. A current of water is constantly passed through these pipes to prevent. them from being burned out'and also, to prevent molten parts of the fuel adhering to them. The vertical space between the surface of the grate, and the under surface of the pipes 28, and particularly the frontmost of said pipes, constitutes the area or opening through which the ashes-pass prior to being discharged intothe ash pit located below the rear end of the grate. For the :reasons before stated, the proper and that the fuel layer extend throughout the entire length of the grate, and also'that no part of the fuel be discharged from the grate before it is entirely reduced to ash. It is now apparent, that if the space separating the surface of the grate and the Water-cooled crowded back by its contact with the nose 27 and said retainer, and the layer of ashes Wlll pass beneath the'same and be discharged into the ash pit below. In this manner, the

fuel layer is increased in thickness at the rear portion of the grate with the result that the draft through the grate is maintained constant. throughout the area of" the grate. upon the grate until entirely consumed and reduced to ash and discharged into the ash pit. Having pointed out the desirability of maintaining the discharge space or opening substantially equal to the thickness of the ash layer at the rear of the furnace, it is at once obvious that the thickness of the ash layer is variable, depending on the conditions under which the furnace is operated, as for instance, the rate of travel of the grate, thequantity of fuel fed to the furnace, or the character of the fuel used. This space may be obviously varied by raising and lowering the rear portion of the grate and it is to a construction for accomplishing Furthermore, the fuel is retained the grate and in close proximity to the V outer faces of the side frame members 16, 16

are mounted two horizontal elevating beams 80, 30, Figs. 1 and 2, preferably of the I-beam type' These beams are considerably shorter than the side frame members and extend throughout the central portion of the grate. The forward ends of the beams preferably terminate intermediate the truck journals 22, 22 of the grate, although considerably nearer the forward truck journal. The rear end of the beams terminate beyond the rear truck journals, and substantially midway between said rear truck journals and the rear extremities of the side frame members. In this manner the beams extend forwardly and rearwardly of the rear truck journal,-the greater portion or length of said beam being located forwardly of said journal. Said beams are pivotally mounted at the rear ends thereof upon the said frame members in a manner hereinafter described. There being a beam on either side of the grate and each identical in construction, location and operation, a description of one will suffice for both, as well as for the parts operating in connection with said beams. Referring therefore, to one of said beams 30, the same constitutes in effect, a lever which is pivoted at its rear end as before stated, supported at a fulcrum point intermediate of its ends and located immediately above the rear tru'cln' journal, and adapted to have power applied at its forward end to move said beam in a vertical plane about the fulcrum point, said beam thereby acting as a lever, which being connected at its rear end with the adjacent portion of the grate, transmits a force to said grate in a direction to raise the rear portion of the grate.

To permit the grate to be elevated in the manner above described, without raising the rear truck and the wheels from the tracks, the rear truck journal is mounted in a truck member that is slidably connected to the side frame members 16. This member is termed a fulcrum plate 31, (Figs. 1,4 and 5) i fulcrum plate is adapted to be slidably mounted in contact with the guide plate with the margins thereof in sliding engage- .ment with said grooves 34. The guide plate is rigidly secured to and mounted upon the side frame member by means of a plurality of vertically arranged bolts 35 extending through the marginal portions of the guide plate and the side frame member 16. At the upper end of the fulcrum plate is provided a roller 36 extending transversely of the fulcrum plate and mounted ina bracket formed integral with said plate and consisting of an arm 31 formed integral with the plate and spaced outwardly therefrom, the journals of said roller having bearing in the upper portion of said plate and in said arm. The roller lies substantially in the plane of the fulcrum plate and supports the elevating beam 30, there being preferably provided a grooved plate 37, secured to the under side of said beam, and interposed between said roller and beam, and forming a track with which said roller has rolling engagement. In this manner the fulcrum plate supports the beam intermediate of its ends, said fulcrum plate being in turn, sup ported upon the rear truck journal 22.. To permit the free movement of the side frame member, relative to the fulcrum plate, the central portion of the guide plate 38 is provided with a U-shaped recess 33 (Figs. 4 and 5) adapted to permit the upper portion of the fulcrum plate, which is offset inwardly to a slight degree in order to form the roller supporting bracket of the fulcrum plate, to pass freely between the vertical marginal flanges of said guide plate during the relative movement of the grate and the stationary fulcrum plate. The rear end of the beam is pivotally mounted upon the side frame member 16 by means of bracket 38, secured to the under side of the beam by means of bolts 39, said bracket being provided with an eye adapted to engage a pin 40 integral with a supporting plate 41 (Fig. 6 secured to the inner face of the side frame member, said pin projecting from a cylindric portion of the supporting plate which extends through an aperture in the side frame member. By this arrangement, the beam is pivotally mounted upon the side frame, and at the same time connected to the frame member in such a manner that the leverage produced by the beam is effective in elevating the grate as will be more fully pointed out.

Referring now to the mechanism for oper ating the elevating beam, the same embraces the following elements: At the forward end of each beam 30 is provided a sector 42 rigidly secured thereto in any suitable man ner, and comprising curvilinear gear segment having a series of gear teeth upon its surface. Immediately forward of the sec tors is a shaft 43, extending transversely of the grate and journaled in said side frame members, the ends of said shaft extending beyond the outer surfaces of said side frame members. Rigidly mounted upon the shaft 43, (Fig. 3) exterior of the side frame members and the plane of the sectors, are pinions 44, 44 meshing with the gear teeth of the sectors. At one end of the shaft 43, namely, the right hand end as shown in Fig. 3, and in close proximity to the adjacent pinion 44,

is mounted a worm wheel 45 rigidly'keyed to said shaft. The worm wheel engages a worm gear 46 located above the worm wheel, said Worm gear being mounted upon a horizontal operating shaft 47 extending forwardly toward the front end of the grate. The shaft 47 is mounted in suitable bearings 48, 48 secured to the side frame member 16, and terminates at the forward end of the grate exterior of the furnace and projects beyond the side frame member at the end. of said shaft. An operating lever 49 is mounted on the end of the shaft 4:7,said lever being preferably of the ratchet type and adapted to be operated by hand to'rotate the shaft 47.

Having described the device embodying the features of my invention, the operation will be understood from the following: As shown in Fig. 1, the grate is in horizontal, or lowered position in which the space between the rear portion of the grate surface and the retainer or pipe 28, is greatest, thus providing the maximum space for the discharge of ashes. Now assuming that conditions of operation of the furnace have been changed so as to require a decreased space between the rear portion of the grate and the retainer. for the reasons before pointed out, the proper adjustment is obtained by raising the rear portion of the grate by means of the elevating mechanism in the following manner: By operating the ratchet lever 4.9 from right to left, thereby rotating the shaft 47 in a counter clock-wise direction, a rotative movement is transmitted to the worm wheel 45 through the medium of the worm gear 46, and thence to the shaft 43, and pinions i l engaging the gear teeth of the sectors 42, 42 of the elevating beams As shown in Fig. 1, the lower teeth engage the'pinions M when the elevating beams are in horizontal position and the grate in lowered position. The actuation of the worm wheel and pinions acts to rotate the elevating beams about the fulcrum, consisting of the fulcrum plate and roller 36 thereof in a direction such that the forward end of said beams are moved downwardly by reason of the toothed engagement of the rotating pinions and the sectors. Inasmuch as the rear end of the elevating beams are pivotally mounted upon the side frame members,'the downward movement of the forward end results in the raising of the rear end of the grate, the motion of the grate during the elevating operation partaking of the nature of a rotative movement of the grate about the axis of the truck journal 22 at the forward end of the grate. Fig. 2 shows the grate in elevated position in which the elevating beams arenow inclined to the side frame members and the surface of the grate inclined upwardly from front to rear, the rear portion thereof being brought nearer the retainer or nose, thereby decreasing thes'pace or area through which the ashes may be discharged. i

The operation of elevating the grate is accompanied by a relative movement each of the fulcrum plates 31 and the guide plates 33 at both sides of the grate inasmuch as the. fulcrum plates remain in stationary bearing upon the rear truck journals 22 and said guide plates are fixed to the side frame members. Thusthe guide plates are carried upwardly in sliding engagement with the fulcrum plate, the bracket at the upper end of said fulcrum plate entering the U-shaped recess 33 in said guide plate. The upward movement of the grate is further accompanied by a slight rotative movement of the" fulcrum plate about the truck journal in a direction towardvthe front end of the grate due to the necessary shifting of said fulcrum plate from vertical position by reason of the upward movement of the grate, which as before stated, is'a rotative movement about the front truck journal as its axis. During the upward movement of the grate, there also occurs a slight rolling 90 contact between the fulcrum roller 36 and the truck plate 37 with. which it has engagement, this being due to the slight rotative movement of the fulcrum plate about the truck journal before mentioned. The operation of lowering the grate is obviously accomplished by the manipulation of the operating ratchet lever in the opposite direction, thus actuating the members of the elevating device in the opposite directions to lower the rear end of the grate to its original or any desired intermediateposition.

It is to be noted that in all elevated positions, as well as in the lowered position of the grate, the side frame members'are not sup ported directly upon the rear truck journal, but indirectly thereupon, through the medium of the beams, their connection at either end with the frame members by means of the pivot brackets, the elevating mechanism, and the fulcrum plate, said latter member together with said rear truck journal, supporting the entire weight of the rear portion of the grate. To permit the side framemembers to clear the truck journal when in low- 115 ered position, the lower margins of the side frame members are preferably provided with recesses 16 adapted to receive the truck journal22 when the grate is in lowered position wherein. the lower margins of said 120 side frame members extend below said journals.

Among the advantages secured by the construction embodying my invention, the first that presents itself is the self-contained fea 125 ture, whereby the entire elevating mecha- I nism is mountedupon, and constitutes apart of the grate thereby obtaininga construction-for a'traveling chaingrate adapted to be raised and lowered in the manner and 18D for the purposes herein described, wherein the operation for regulating the space for the discharge of ashes at the rear portion of the grate is accomplished by means entirely independent of the furnace proper and without the use of other external lifting devices. Thus the grate may be moved from and into the furnace without interfering with the adjustment of the grate or necessitating the lowering of the rear portion thereof prior to moving the same, permitting the grate to be removed without necessitating the lowering of the grate or disturbing its adjustment for elevation. Furthermore, a construction embodying elevating means so mounted upon the grate as to afford a considerable degree of leverage permits the grate to be raised or lowered with great ease, convenience, and with a small expenditure of effort.

It is apparent that any suitable mechanism for operating the elevating beams may be equally well applied and furthermore, a variation in the construction of the fulcrum plate and adjacent parts may be made with out departing from the spirit of my inven tion. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the construction herein described or shown except in so far as pointed out in the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate, a frame carrying said grate, track engaging wheels supporting said frame, the wheels adjacent to one end of said frame having adjustable connection with said frame, and an elevating device mounted on said frame adapted to be operated to raise and lower one end of said frame and grate relative to said adjustably connected wheels.

2. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate, comprising a frame, provided with track engaging wheels mounted at the front and rear ends thereof, the wheels at one end of said grate having adjustable connection with said frame and means mounted on said grate adapted to be actuated to raise and lower one end of said grate relative to said adjustably connected wheels and about the axis of rotation of the said wheels at the opposite end of said frame.

3. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate comprising a frame and a supporting member having adjustable connection with said frame, and means for elevating one end of said grate comprising a beam pivotally connected to said frame, and resting upon said adjustable supporting member, and means for rotating said beam about said supporting member as a fulcrum.

4. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate, comprising a frame and a supporting member having adjustable connection with said frame, and means for elevating one end of said grate comprising a beam pivotally connected at one end to said frame and bearing upon said supporting member intermediate of its ends, and means for applying power at the free end of said beam to rotate the same about said support ing member as a fulcrum to elevate one end of said grate.

5. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate, comprising a. frame provided with trucks at the front and rear ends thereof, the truck at one end of said grate having sliding engagement with said frame, and means for elevating one end of said i c k m risin a. eam s r rate, co p g b u) o ted u on said frame, a beam having pivotal connection with the frame and supported upon the adjustable truck as a fulcrum, and operating means for actuating said beam to transmit a rotative movement to said grate relative to said adjustable truck and about the aXis of rotation of the wheels of the truck at the opposite end of the grate.

7. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate, comprising a frame member supported upon trucks and track engaging wheels at the front and rear ends of said frame, a beam extending longitudinally of said frame member and pivotally connected thereto adjacent to the rear end thereof, said truck at the rear end of said frame having sliding connection with said frame and supporting said beam at a point distant from said point of pivotal connection and acting as a fulcrum therefor, said beam being provided with a sector having gear teeth thereon, a pinion engaging said sector, and means for actuating said pinion to rotate said beam about its point of contact with said truck as a fulcrum, to rotate the grate about the axis of rotation of said truck wheels at the front end of the grate.

8. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate, comprising side frame members and trucks provided with track engaging Wheels mounted at the front and rear ends of the grate, the truck at the rear end of said grate comprising plates having sliding engagement with said side frames and in bearing engagement with the truck j ournals, beams located on either side of the grate having pivotal connection wlth the side frame members and supported upon the plates as fulcrum points, and operating means for actuating said beam about said fulcrum to transmit a rotative movement to said grate about the axis of rotation of the truck Wheels at the front end of said grate.

9. In a furnace, the combination of a. traveling grate, comprising side frame members supported upon Wheels journaled at thefront and rear ends of said grate, beams extending longitudinally and disposed on opposite sides of said grate and pivotally connected thereto adjacent to the rear endthereof, said Wheels at the rear end of said grate being journaled' in a plate having sliding engagement with said side frame members and supporting said beams at points distant from said points of pivotal connection, and acting as fulcrums said beams being provided with sectors having gear teeth, a shaft extending transversely of said grate and mounted in said side frame members, gear members fixed to said shaft engaging the teeth of said sectors, and means for actuating said shaft to rotate said beamsabout the points of contact with the fulcrum plates to rotate the grate about the axis of rotation of said Wheels at the front end of the grate.

10. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate, a frame carrying said grate,

were? a supporting member adjacent to one end of said frame and having sliding engagementtherewith, a. lever fulcrumed on said supporting member and operatively connected With said frame, and'means adjacent to the opposite end "or said frame for actuating said lever to raise and lower one end of the frame. a

11. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate, a frame-carrying said grate, a supporting member adjacent to one end of said frameand having slidingengagement therewith, means forelevating one end of said frame relative to said supporting member, comprising a lever mounted on said frame and engaging said supporting memher as a fulcrum, and means mounted on said frame at the opposite end thereof adapted to rotate said beam about its fulcrum.

In testimony, that I, claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in the presence of tWUWltHGSSBS, this 19th day of January A. D. 1915.

A. POPPENHUSEN.

Witnesses:

EUGE E O. WANN, CLARA L. 'Pnornns.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

I a Washington, D. G. 

